Morning journal and courier., 1887-05-04
THE SCENE OF THE WRECK.


 the Scene-The Ruined Locomotive
 House The Bursted BOiler-ghe
 Theory of the ExplosiOn-The Long
 Dismal WhfstlIns That Followed
 the Explosion.
 Thousands of people visited the scene of the wrecked locomotive house near the foot of Bridge street yesterday. Many people were walked from sound sleep by the noise of the boiler explosion and the crash of the fall ing bricks, and thereafter listened to the dis nal shrieking of the locomotive whistle which was set agoing by the explosion. Many thought that the noise of the explosion pro- ceeded from some blasting operation at East Rock, dons in the nights time for greater safety. A good three-ffths part of the round house was totally wrecked. The wrecked part lay flat upon the ground, ex- cepting here and there small jagged portion of the walls. The building was about 100 feet long in front where the locomotives en- l ter, 125 feet long in the rear and about 40 feet wide, while the roof slanted like a | church roof, the ridge pole being about 50 feet from the ground. The walls were of brick and two feet thick. Underneath where the locomotives stood were the ash pits. The part of the building left standing looked as 1 if it had ''been through the wars" and almost ready to tumble down. The locomotive, the boiler of which burst, was "No. 100," but | was formerly the ''Argus." She is six years old, weighs thirty-four tons, and had an iron boiler. The boilers now put in are of
 steel. ''No. 100" had been in constant use since built except Sundays and when in the l shops for the occasional overhauling. Being 1 run usually night and day, she was run by two crews. MT. Henney, the superintendent of motive power, says she has done excellent np1r faru Ina put to hydrostatic test of 17O pounds, which is equal to 300 pounds of steam, and when the explosion occurred the indicator showed only 132 pounds pressure. The Con- solidated road requires 8 severe test of all To- comotive boilers. In Massachusetts test of | only 150 pounds hydrostatic is required. An examination of the fractured parts has failed to reveal the cause of the explosion. The rivets were found to be perfect. MT. Henney says that possibly some part of the iron was harder than others and that a frac- ture resulted. He did not believe that the men on the locomotive, who were competent were at fault. If the machine had been out side no person would have been hurt. This was the first explosion of Hartford division locomotive.
 Yesterday afternoon force of machinistg was at work on the damaged locomotive in the Consolidated road repair shops. The rent was made about four feet behind the
 
 the boiler plates are blown off and the fues are slightly bent. Explosions usual ly take place near the fire box, and are usual ly attended with loss of life. The point Of fracture was favorable in this case for the men. Only two of the fues burst. Superin- tendent Henny says the repairs, which will be completed in two weeks, can be made for $25O Switcher Mo- 59. which is used at Harlem river, came up yesterday and will be in use at Belle dock until No. 100 comes out of the shops. Just before the explosion occur red Engineer William Carroll of Fair Haven and Fireman W. B. Mack of Collis street, who had just finished their days work, had gone home leaving the fire banked and the engine all ready for the next crew, who came at 3 a. m., and who were Engineer Bodwell of 106 Wolcott street, Fair Haven; Fireman William D. Bates, of Collis street; and s. F. Booth, the new fireman, of 43 Greene street. In Jacob Astem of I'll Grand avenue, and three engine vi pers or cleaners, Roger Feely, of 583 Grand avenue; John Reynolds, boarding with his brother Michael on East street, near Collis; and Farrell McNulty, of 104 Wallace street. Watchman Astem and Engineer Bodwell were frightfully cut and bruised by the explosion, and Bremen Bates and Booth, Roger Feely, John Reynolds and F. McNulty were badly bruised, but all will it is expect ed recover in 8 few days. How anyone of them escaped being killed was a mystery to people who viewed the wreck yesterday. The low water theory of the explosion is not well sustained, and the explosion was, it is thought, caused by some imperfection in the boiler. Including the damage of the boiler the total damage will not exceed $15, ,000. Two other fine locomotives near by were damaged and had to be taken to the repair shops. An unearthly shrieking followed directly upon the explosion and was kept up for Inc rubi ell of fbo locomotive which stood next to the badly shattered one, and piece of iron or brick struck the whistling apparatus, which there upon went to shrieking wildly and kept it up until means were devised by which it was made to "shut up." The ''shrieking" engine was one of the "big moguls" and was being made ready to take the o'clock freight train to Hartford. Switcher ''100" was also a powerful engine.
 One mechanic said yesterday that the switcher had rebelled against excessive use and burst her boiler as a warning to prevent the engine being used night and day without rest. ''This," he added, "may be called sentimentality, but I say it is gospel truth and cold scientific fact that engines, no more than human beings, can work night and day, year after year, without going to pieces somewhere"
 Engineer Bodwel1 was attended at his home by Dr. Frank Whittemore. His head had to be covered with bandages and his shoulders and chest were very sore. He says there was plenty of water in the boiler Had he been in the cab at the time the explosion occurred he would not have been hurt, as neither the cab nor the glass in the cab were damaged. He hopes to be about in a week.
 Fireman Bates had just begun railroad life as fireman yesterday morning. It was a noisy initiation.
 Superintendents Shepard, Davidson and Vice President Reed were among the many who visited the ruins yesterday.
 Civil Engineer Sylvanus Butler picked up in the debris yesterday afternoon piece of the exploded boiler. The piece was little larger around than gentleman's watch, half an inch thick and was circular in shape. The edges were uneven and twisted.
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